Summary
- Reports indicate that some Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones are beginning to suffer from battery swelling.
- Symptoms of a swollen battery include a bulging phone chassis, display detachment, and irregular battery performance.
- I’d recommend keeping an eye on your Pixel 7 series handset, in the off chance that your model is impacted by this defect.
Google’s all-new Pixel 10 series of smartphones are off to a momentous start, and Pixel phones appear to be doing better than ever on the global stage. However, not everything is going exactly as planned for the search giant when it comes to its mobile hardware endeavors.
A new report from PiunikaWeb suggests that Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro handsets, which were Google’s flagship offerings for 2022, are experiencing an alarming battery swelling issue. Several Pixel 7 series users have taken to the Pixel Phone Help forum and to Reddit to voice their concerns, publishing photos of their own bloated units.
Google, for its part, has yet to comment on the matter, and it’s unclear just how widespread this Pixel 7 and 7 Pro battery issue might be. According to some users, the Google Support Team has so far been receptive to complaints, though individual mileage appears to vary on a case-by-case basis.
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- Brand
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Google
- SoC
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Google Tensor S2
- Display
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6.3-inch, Full HD+, 90Hz, up to 1400nits
- RAM
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8GB
- Storage
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128GB / 256GB
- Battery
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4355mAh, Fast charging, Wireless charging
Google’s seventh-generation Pixel phone shipped with a 6.3-inch OLED display, the Tensor G2 processor, and a dual rear camera system.
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- SoC
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Google Tensor G2
- Display
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6.7in, LTPO, 3120 x 1440 pixels, 120Hz, up to 1500nits
- Storage
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128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Battery
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4500mAh, Fast charging, Wireless charging
- Operating System
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Android 13
- Camera (Rear, Front)
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50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto; 10.8MP front
Pixel 7 Pro builds on the foundation of the Pixel 6 Pro, offering a more refined design, stunning camera performance and clean software.
The latest Pixel power misadventure
Pixels are no stranger to battery-operated woes
Reports of swollen Pixel 7 batteries are troubling, but they’re far from novel. Indeed, there’s a historical precedent of Google-branded power pack complications, most notably in the context of the spicy-pillow-prone Pixel 6a.
In response to Pixel 6a overheating issues, Google pushed out a mandatory firmware update to reduce the risk of malfunction back in July. I would wager that a similar software solution will be pushed out to Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users in the very near future, assuming the issue is addressable via software to begin with.
In the meantime, if you happen to be an owner of a Pixel 7 series smartphone, I’d recommend keeping an eye out for potential symptoms of a bloated battery. If you notice a bulge within your phone’s chassis, if your display appears to be lifting away from its frame, or if your device is simply running much hotter than usual, consider reaching out to Google via its official customer support page.
